" What you do in your life is just one half of the equation, more importantly it's who you're with while doing it. "

moving around this world, colliding with others: new comrade or old freund. i cherish the days to know others as you travel with them, it opens us up in ways we might not even know about ourselves. this is big huge (i exclaim)
a short story: there once was a man. a man of mine. he traveled far. in a plaza he surprised me with flowers. we held hands and put one foot in front of the other side by side, always.

glance

pareee (flash-back)

after watching a movie that took place in paris my mind was revolving in the places i lived out my days there [though only about two weeks total]. having free time is a pleasure i will not risk talking dirty about, but i prize the next adventure.

[below: just a few images i snapped of this ever surprising city]

i attended a wedding of weddings a few weekends ago.
this one was delightful in so many ways. i mean, c'mon, look at the length of that shadow. and that bride.
some of my most beautiful friends were in attendance and dance we did.
til the next one, we will love eachother from afar.

issue launced a blog.
issue: a student run organization through the university of texas school of architecture
launch: blast off from solid ground into the unknown in hopes of making an impact
blog: intra-web communication device to share stories, blurbs, documentations, wit and the like, pertaining to the UT architecture community.

[check it out here]

greenbeltglory

so i have found a rather large gem [do they always have to be small?] better yet, i have found a huge diamond. no, that doesn't work either. well, to me, this locale is a place of refuge that makes me feel like i don't live in texas, not meaning to say there is anything wrong with living in texas. it is just that i am accustomed to runs and ventures happening in the foothills of the rockies or the indian himalayas, [not too bad]. i knew the barton creek greenbelt was there, but i did not realize how close it was to my digs. it is close. across the street and down the hill a tad, close. out of the four times i have been there, i have pulled off three successful attempts at getting royally lost. scrambling here and there, knowing i had placed a carin there or here, i popped out in foreign territory. oh the beauties of running into the unknown. if you live in austin or are making a trip you cannot pass up a hike, bike or trail run in this outdoor playground. plus, i hear when we it rains [ha] the creek fills with water [see below] and you can dive right in. i'm on the waiting list for that!

welp, here is a fantastic shot [i didn't take] of barton creek greenbelt looking rather nostalgic. just throw some color in the mix and nix the water.

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home: studio: where the sunset never fails you.



...for those of you comin' home

baddaboom


grad school starts tomorrow.
yep.
that means a heck of a lot has happened in the past months, well, since may of my last post. it saddens me that i have been cheating on this blog with other amusements. the least of which is couch lounging, the most of which is bavarian journies. if i could chat and relay all that has been felt/experienced/gazed upon/devoured/soaked up, please believe me when i say i would. though to be quite honest with you, whomever you are, things just got a little too personal. so personal it made some changes. good, great, wonderful changes.

moving forward....i have a new city to explore. austin is the choice and it gives me great pleasure to traverse through this city and find its magnificence. because i hear it's there to experience.

rajasthanitimes

we ventured west. far far west to the thar desert of rajasthan.

this was the first time to really be a tourist traveler, if you will, in india. and let me tell you, it was as crazy as you would imagine india to be. we were hooted at, adorned, part of family portraits, hawk eyed by rickshaw drivers, hassled by locals trying to get our last rupee. each night we fell face first completely exhausted into our "bed" though our landing place seldom came in the form of a traditional mattress & sheets. it could have been the overnight train berth, the soft thar desert sand, or the local bus economy seat we took to agra where my feet extended out the window to fully stretch out for the evening.

jaisalmer was magical and an oasis amongst the harsh desert land
jaipur was pink and full of nightly commotion that landed us at a fashion show
agra is the host city for the taj mahal and an obligated venture for any architect

a few shots of jaisalmer
i couldn't let you live without seeing
[and more to come]

-oooooooooooooooo----------some of the local flavor

the camera lens got a bit of sand in it....oops----ooooooooooooooo

i here declare this space: soft & sandy-----ooooooooooooooooooooo

oooooooooo------we survived a year-sandstorm.
this was the first light of the next morning
we drank sand.
i'm not kidding

a jain temple inside the fort with helpful staff :)-------oooooooooooo

ooooooo------jaisalmer fort struck by moonlight and jeeps

goatgiving

a shot from a day-trip to ladour village this past weekend where we gave four goats to the woman in green. she had tears of joy to give us in return.

this one time...

i went to the local hospital.
my tummy was not feeling so great and needed some attention :( i blame the delicious yet new food Annu cooks for us and i've been indulging in each day. though apparently a weak stomach is even common for the local indian. just maybe i am fitting right in, now for the blinding white complexion i've managed, that is a different story.

my first visit to the landour hospital was with ivy and sure glad she accompanied me on this venture. who would have known to go to window #2 promptly? also being sure to leave zero space between you and then next person in '"line" or you would perpetually be between the last and second to last person. if you managed to stand your ground you were awarded with questions in this order:

are you married?
why are you single?
what is your husbands name?
well then, what is your father's name?
don't you have correct change for your visit?

then on to room #5 or #7 depending on ...on...well i'm not sure how they determined that one, perhaps whichever doctor became available first. then back over to window #1 to settle your bill for the 1.5 minute doctor visit and brown bag pills. lastly, over to the pharmacy to pick up said medicine. waaaala! medicine given to cure me until the next time i swallow a drop of unfiltered water or devour an unwashed bunch of grapes.

there was no insurance needed, no background medical history or even a check of the passport to make sure i am who i am. just happy to serve and quite inexpensive. thank you, indian health care.

in total:
one time registration fee------- 200 rupees
plastic cup for testing in the lab-- 75 rupees
3 different prescriptions---------70 rupees
that comes to: $7.67 USD !

photogs

well folks we had a photo contest in the office. all the way with an anonymous vote. the hardest part was choosing just ONE photograph to enter. our amazing in house photographer, anni, won. not such a big surprise as her image was wonderful. plus, i'm a fan of repetition.


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here is the one i picked; taken right after we arrived in bombay.
also included is a haiku description just for you, you're welcome.

open eyes to dark
locals gait, rickshaw hail, horn.
nightscape of Bombay


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take a look at that gentleman [photo by grahamfrank]